The new Denis Villeneuve directed sci-fi epic Dune, based on the massively influential 1965 sci-fi novel of the same name by author Frank Herbert, got its first trailer on September 9th, and I’m pretty stoked. Regardless of what you may have heard about David Lynch’s 1984 film adaptation, this version already looks quite promising. Dune is the granddaddy of all your favorite sci-fi tropes:
Spaceships and other planets. Check.
Prophecies, chosen ones and special powers. Check.
Evil, galactic empires and giant, alien creatures. Check.
Profound, psychedelic existentialism, and super weird names. Giant sandworm sized Check.
Star Wars is perhaps the most famous of properties to be directly influenced by Herbert, but some of the character dynamics and expansive world building is also quite similar to Game of Thrones. In fact similar to how the Thrones T.V show pulled the fantasy genre into both the mainstream, as well as being a show aimed at grown up audiences, Villeneuve has described Dune as “Star Wars for adults.” This is darker, harder science fiction.
Dune has a lot going for it, with its massive, star studded cast including the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster. It looks to be in that wonderful cross section of movies that both have massive blockbuster filmmaking and budgets, but is also based on a respected source material to possibly explore deeper themes which make it a potential Oscar contender.
Now, if you didn’t piece it together already, I absolutely loved this trailer and am even more excited for what could have been my most anticipated movie of any year, not just one where the world is on fire and movies are getting consistently pulled from theaters.
However… I’m a little concerned. While I think this trailer is certainly appealing to nerds like myself, I’m worried it may be alienating (Shut up. I know it’s a pun. Shut up.) mainstream audiences.
I’m worried we’re going to have a second Blade Runner 2049 on our hands. Another gorgeous, masterfully done, large scale, Villeneuve sci-fi epic, that fans of the original and science fiction will love, but will tragically underperform at the box office because the general public just doesn’t have interest. This is aside from the fact that any movie at all being released in the near future is fighting an uphill battle due to decreased theater turn out in the time of Covid.
My first concern with the trailer is the tone that it sets. Dune already feels very different and foreign than your typical sci-fi epic, in that it feels almost like a dream. I worry that to those that are strangers to the property, it comes off as being beyond profound or intellectual, but pretentious. Something about it is causing even strong movie fans like my brother to call it “too weird / sci-fi” for them. If you aren’t familiar with the property, or at least the creative team behind the film, it may come across as too inaccessible. My other major concern comes from what I have learned since the release of the trailer.
Now, I’ve actually been doing some reading (my mother just gasped). Right after I saw the trailer, I trekked over to our very own Shain library and checked out the actual Dune book. And while the book is super good so far, it didn’t help with my fears of the movie (which is supposedly a very faithful adaptation) being too weird and inaccessible for most moviegoers. Aside from the tone that I just described dominating the page, this is what I call a “proper noun” book. 80% of character names, planet names, position names, or any other kind of name are the weirdest s**t you have ever seen. There is literally a glossary at the beginning of the book that I refer to about every paragraph in order to know what they’re even talking about. But the main thing that I’m worried about for the transition from page to screen is the setting itself. Dune is named after the planet for which it takes place, and the formal name of “Dune” is Arakkis.
And Arrakis. F**king. Sucks. I don’t mean that it isn’t cool, or intentionally written a certain way for the sake of story, but one of the main points about Arrakis is that no person would ever, EVER want to live there.
Dune’s release date is currently set for December 18, 2020 (Although admittedly, the release date will probably have been moved by the time this article comes out). The holiday movie season usually has at least one major blockbuster that gets released yearly. However, one of the key decisions that studios make about which movies get released this time of year, is really about what families would want to watch this time of year. The most successful movies released in December are usually ones set in far away worlds, with large action scenes, but ones that won’t bore or scare the s**t out of the kids. Avatar, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, the most recent Star Wars trilogy, and Aquaman were all massively successful movies that apply nicely to each of these standards. Sure, Pandora, Middle Earth, and Atlantis all have danger, but it’s “fun” danger. These are beautiful looking, shiny, even comfy, exotic lands that families would like to escape to rather than the winter cold, or even worse, their own houses during the holidays. Arrakis isn’t like these places. Arrakis being the worst is like the whole point of Arrakis. Most people won’t want to go there.
Now the upside of this trailer is that at least it’s not dishonest. It’s trying to market what it will ultimately sell. However, I still have some tips for the next trailer. Mr.Villeneuve, you don’t need to hide or abandon your actual product, or deceive the audience for that matter, but maybe showcase the things you have that are actually appealing to the general public.
- Highlight your cast more.
You have one of the best casts I have seen in recent years for a blockbuster picture, and you need to show them more. Let the audience recognize these stars from things they have seen and liked before. Many of your cast members have been in both critically acclaimed smaller work, as well as similar, large scale sci-fi or action franchises. In your cast you have members of The Spider-Man movies, Mission Impossible, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, and James Bond. Help the audience see stars they are familiar with, and let your stars introduce them to the unfamiliar. Put their names real big in the next trailer.
- Highlight the story, as well as more accessible themes.
It’s the first trailer, so I understand the desire to just tease and not give stuff away. But, showing your characters’ goals, and what the movie is actually about is a good way for audiences to connect with and understand what they’re in for. It also makes your movie seem like more of a story, and less of a sci-fi fever dream. Maybe even throw in some text saying this was the inspiration for Star Wars. Show off that Game of Thrones esque family betrayal and warfare. People get that.
- Change your music
I love Pink Floyd, and I get that this is a reference to the fact that the original movie was going to have a Pink Floyd soundtrack, but this was the wrong call. I thought this rendition of “Eclipse” was awesome, but it certainly contributed to the weirdness. You have Hans Zimmer doing the score. He’s one of probably two composers on the whole planet who may be a household name. Show his name, and show off his music which will almost certainly make this seem like a more accessible adventure movie.
Dune has been described as possibly the next Lord of the Rings by some who have seen excerpts, and it’s hard for me to not get excited when I hear that. This is a huge opportunity to have a new movie or series that walks the line between critical and Oscar love as well massive mainstream appeal. Unless it’s bad, which I’d seriously bet against, I don’t want this one bombing.
Weirdness and proper nouns are not insurmountable. No one in their right mind would think Gandalf, Groot, or General Grievous could be household names, but here we are. But you have to market yourself correctly and make something that people, not just dorks like me, can connect with. Then you’ll have something special.
